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Digital Transformation Requires Federation and Automation of All Components

As service providers and network operators make the slow and inevitable migration toward web-scale networking, a digital transformation is underway. The complex components that make up the next-generation network present significant challenges when it comes to managing a slew of new processes while also meeting the ever-changing and increasing demands of customers. Automation is an absolute must for those service providers who hope to make the leap to web-scale networking.

A recent blog post from Blue Planet, a division of optical networking company Ciena, highlights how automation can meet some of the challenges inherent in the digital transformation. For starters, networks are becoming increasingly complex as service providers adopt a mixed bag of virtual and physical technologies and infrastructure. Being able to manage legacy infrastructure and OSS while also shifting to cloud-based services and network functions virtualization (NFV) represents a significant challenge to network operators.

An open and automated approach to management is an invaluable tool for any service provider undertaking the digital transformation. Solutions like Multi-Domain Service Orchestration (MDSO) from Blue Planet help in that journey, offering open APIs and interfaces to controllers across multiple domains and multi-vendor devices. This helps streamline and automate workflows for better management and efficiencies as network operators work to meet the demands of their customers.

The next-generation network simply can’t afford to have disparate systems handling specific workflows, creating needless complexities and inefficiencies. A lean and automated approach to web-scale networking requires the federation of OSS and network data systems, with a solution that can combine multiple data sources and synchronize planned and real-time data. This enables network operators to obtain a high-level and extremely accurate overview of their entire networks and services, enabling them to automatically adjust resources and workflows as needed.

Web-scale networks are inherently complex, but managing them doesn’t need to be. The digital transformation requires a slow and steady migration from legacy network solutions to more efficient cloud-based and virtualized components. A comprehensive network management solution will federate and orchestrate all network components, providing service providers with a holistic view of network operations and workflows that may be adjusted dynamically.

Web-scale Networking

The idea of Web-scale IT is more than just another 'hot' buzzword or problematic disruption. What started with data center operators has become mainstream thinking in large enterprises, and it's now driving changes in service provider operations, as well. Web-scale tools that allow application development to move quickly have also created some challenges for service provider networks.